Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Emerson
The month we spent in Lake Renegade went by way too fast. The guys still haven’t found out what Palmer wants.
And now he’s resorted to texting and threatening Sawyer, just like her parents and sisters are doing.
They figured out who I am and even went as far as to try and get me fired.
We explained to my bosses at Desmo the situation and they said they’re behind us.
They’ve also provided us with extra security.
No one’s allowed in my garage or Easton’s since his is attached to mine.
We’ve also gotten the paperwork done for me to adopt River.
I know she’s still worried, but now that we know who Palmer is, we need to protect River even more.
Not only will I protect him, but he’s now part of the Mancini family.
And here in Illinois, that’s a name a lot of people know.
Kostas, Celestino, Oliver and Alfonso have come with us for extra security.
This weekend is the first race of the season and emotions are always higher.
Everyone wants to do well for the first race.
It sets the precedent on how we hope our season will go.
I feel good about this weekend, but I’m still worried about Sawyer.
I know how worried she is, but she’s told me that she feels safe.
Desmos has also allowed us to have River in the garage with us. Which makes us both feel better.
“You ready?” Easton asks me as we’re stretching and getting our gear on.
“I am. I just wish I could make this all okay for Sawyer and River.”
“We all do. But I need to know your head’s in racing. Our jobs are hard enough, being distracted can be deadly.”
“I know, I promise, I’m all in.”
My brother’s right. Being distracted is the worst thing we can do. No matter what’s going on in our lives, when we get on that track? Our only focus has to be there on that track. So as much as I love both of them, I need to block it out for the next hour.
Sawyer
Emerson has done so much for me and for River.
What worries me is that now Palmer has started to text me.
Sometimes he threatens to take River and sometimes he acts nice and sweet.
Saying he just wants to know his son. Which we all know is bullshit.
I don’t know what he really wants. But I know he wants something.
I want to know why he even gave his sperm to the clinic.
Most do it because they want to help or they need some extra money.
But he doesn’t seem like he needs money and I doubt he did it to be nice.
On race weekends, we have free practice one and two.
There’s also a practice session in between.
Then we have qualifying. After that, there’s the sprint race, and then Sunday is the big race.
I hate to think that Emerson isn’t focused.
He tells me that he’s okay, that when he’s on his bike, he’s focused on what he has to do.
And I hope it stays that way. I couldn’t live with the idea that he got hurt because of me.
Free practice one goes well and Emerson is in the top three.
“The bike is shaking a little more than usual on the hard braking turns,” he says to us.
We’re all taking notes as he briefs us on how the bike felt during FP1.
We will have about four to five hours to get his bike more in tune for him.
The practice session is where the riders go into either qualifying one or two.
The goal is for Q2. But even if he lands in Q1, he can still get into Q2.
This weekend’s race was incredible. Emerson came in second after almost crashing.
Another rider fucked up and almost took out three of them.
It sounds like he’s going to get a penalty for the next race.
There’s two racers that I’ve always thought took too many chances when they race.
There’s that saying, ‘rubbing is racing.’ But this rider takes chances and goes beyond that.
And he never takes responsibility for what he does.
For some reason, they keep letting him get away with that shit.
“We can head back to Lake Renegade till our next race,” I say to Sawyer as we’re packing up to go back to Italy.
“I’d like that. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. We have a month till the next race. So that gives us a little over three weeks. And maybe we’ll finally get some answers.”
“That would be a relief.”
I walk over to him and hug him.
“Thank you for everything. I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through any of this without you.”
“You’re a strong woman. You would’ve found a way. But I’m glad I’m here to help you. I love you.”
“And you wuv meeeee,” River says as he zooms around the room.
“I do love you.” He laughs.
“Should we ask the others if they want to go back?”
“I’m pretty sure they’re going to head back, even if we decided not to.”
We plan to head back tomorrow, I’m really hoping we’ll have some answers soon. Being in limbo about Palmer and my ex-family is the worst feeling.
This time we all got on a commercial flight. I have to admit, I miss the private jet. It’s easy to get spoiled with things like that.
Emerson
When we get back to Lake Renegade, it’s like some of the stress I’ve been feeling goes away. We get there in time to have dinner with everyone and then go to bed. It’s amazing how tired I am, flying from Italy to Illinois. When we get up, I have a text from my cugino.
Sebastiano: We found something. Come to the clubhouse when you get up
I show Sawyer the text. We get up and get showered.
Emerson: On our way in five minutes. Just need to ask my parents if they can keep River with them
Sebastiano: We’ll be here
We head downstairs and see my mama cooking breakfast. River’s sitting and watching her.
“Morning,” I say as I kiss my mama on the cheek and tickle River’s tummy. “Would it be okay if River stayed with you for a bit?”
“Of course. Is everything okay?”
“I think so, Bastian said he needs to talk to us.”
“I hope it’s something good. River and I will have some breakfast and then play outside. Maybe we’ll head up to the main house so he can play with his cousins.”
“Thank you, Mama,” I say as I hug her.
Sawyer hugs my mama and thanks her. We head over to the Cimaruta clubhouse, I’m a little anxious.
I feel like we need to have this done already.
Sawyer is on edge a lot because she’s worried that Palmer could actually have rights to River.
Lorenzo said he can try. But legally, he’s never done anything.
Plus, it was supposed to be an anonymous donor.
So we’re going to go after the clinic too.
They violated Sawyer and River’s rights when they gave Palmer her information.
When we get to the clubhouse, Sebastiano, Francesco, Gervasio and Galen are waiting for us. Some of our other family members have been helping Bastian and Franco with the IT stuff. We all say good morning and sit down to talk.
“Okay, we’ve actually found out a lot. We didn’t want to send any of this in a text or on the phone.
First, I wanted to give you an update on the adoption.
Our papers are filed, but for some reason it’s not moving through the system.
Lorenzo’s making phone calls to find out what’s holding it up,” Francesco says just as Lorenzo walks in to join us. I don’t like the look on his face.
Francesco stops talking and we all look at Lorenzo.
“I found out why our petition is taking so long. There’s another one in for parental rights from Palmer. He has none, of course. But he’s still allowed to submit his claim. And he has connections that he’s using. Because we have a court date in four days,” Lorenzo says as he looks at us.
“Holy fuck. How much did he pay to bribe whoever did this?” I snap.
“I don’t know. But our name isn’t taken lightly either. But I also don’t know this judge. And I need to talk to some of my colleagues.”
“So are you saying that if this judge is dirty, he can take River away from me?” Sawyer asks as her voice shakes.
“I’m saying he won’t get away with this. We already have all the proof that you paid for an anonymous donor and they’ve violated that. I’m waiting on the petition to see what they’re claiming. It has to be on my desk by the end of today. Or the date has to be pushed back again.”
Sawyer is sobbing as I hold her. This isn’t what we were expecting.
“What if he lies and the judge believes him?” she asks.
“I can’t ask for a change of judges until we see what this one’s like. I’m not going to let them touch River. But we have to see what he’s doing before we jump to conclusions.”
“Even if he’s asking for visitation, I don’t want that.”
“I know, and again, we have the proof that you paid for an anonymous donor. You didn’t ask for a partner in this, or any help.”
“And we’re going to find out how he got your information,” Sebastiano adds.
“Can that be used in court too?” I ask.
“Yes. Because no matter how he got the information, it’s illegal. Sawyer and River are protected. Just like he is protected, Sawyer couldn’t get his information unless he agreed to it.”
I’m worried that there will be court dates that I can’t go to with her. We’re lucky right now because we have a break. But if it was a race week? I wouldn’t be able to be here. I know my family will be with her, but that’s not the same thing.
“Do we have to take River to court too?” she asks.
“No. He will stay here. I don’t want him in the courtroom unless the judge calls for it. And right now, he hasn’t.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. How can Palmer think that he can come in and take River from me?”
“I think I can answer that,” Galen says to us.
“So I’ve been looking into Palmer and his family.
And they’re old-school money. Like, passed down for generations.
What I’ve uncovered is when the money is passed down, each of the recipients have had a family.
So I did more digging. Each will that was drawn up says that anyone in line to inherit money has to have an heir of their own.
A male heir. So until they have one, they don’t get their money.
Palmer has other cousins, but they have sons and they’ve gotten their money.
He, on the other hand, is a well-known womanizer.
I don’t know if he just figured he would get the money even without a son, but the will is blocking that. ”
“So you think he wants River so he can get his inheritance?” Sawyer asks.
“I think that’s exactly it. He needs a son and to him, he has one. The will doesn’t state that he has to be married. Just that he has to have an heir that carries the Beaumont name,” Galen answers her.
“I can’t believe this is happening. What the fuck is going on.” Sawyer sobs.
I hold her tighter. “We’re going to get through this, and Palmer will never take River from us.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Yes we can,” we all say at once.
Sawyer looks at all of us.
“Thank you.”